Stanton M D
Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 1976;3(4):557-70. doi: 10.3109/00952997609014295.
Highlights are presented on the issue of drug use among servicemen in Vietnam and its aftereffects. Two stages of Vietnam drug use are identified-a period of increasing marijuana use followed by the 1970 influx of highly potent heroin to which 1/5 of the enlisted troops were addicted at some time during their tour. The major contributing factors appear to be: (1) the need of troops in stressful combat situations for self-medication, escape, and hedonistic indulgence; (2) the relaxation of taboos against drug use in the United States; and (3) the availability of illicit drugs at low cost, which was apparently the result of profiteering by a number of South Vietnamese officials. Related to the above was the growing disenchantment with the war and the progressive deterioration in unit morale. These drugs are seen as serving many of the functions performed by alcohol in earlier millitary conflicts. There is no hard evidence that duty performance in Vietnam was seriously affected by drug use. Since 95% of those who were addicted to narcotics in Vietnam have not become readdicted, the situation does not appear to be as severe as originally supposed. Myths as to the persistence and intractibility of physiological narcotic addiction were dispelled. A major negative effect has been the difficulty that soldiers with less-than-honorable discharges due to drug abuse have had in obtaining jobs. Other long-term effects from drug use are less clear and are difficult to separate from the overall effects of the war.
本文重点介绍了越南军人吸毒问题及其后果。越南吸毒现象分为两个阶段：大麻使用量不断增加的时期，随后是1970年高纯度海洛因的涌入，五分之一的入伍士兵在服役期间曾在某个时候对其成瘾。主要促成因素似乎是：（1）部队在紧张的战斗情况下需要自我治疗、逃避和享乐放纵；（2）美国对吸毒禁忌的放宽；（3）非法药物的低成本供应，这显然是一些南越官员牟取暴利的结果。与上述情况相关的是对战争的日益失望以及部队士气的逐渐低落。这些毒品被视为在早期军事冲突中发挥了许多酒精所起的作用。没有确凿证据表明越南的任务执行受到吸毒的严重影响。由于在越南对麻醉品成瘾的人中有95%没有再次成瘾，情况似乎没有最初设想的那么严重。关于生理麻醉品成瘾的持续性和顽固性的神话被打破了。一个主要的负面影响是，因吸毒而被不光彩退伍的士兵在找工作时遇到困难。吸毒的其他长期影响不太明确，也难以与战争的总体影响区分开来。
